This year on International Women’s Day, we celebrate women of Geneva Global Ethiopia and Uganda, whose work creates opportunity and breaks barriers every day. Geneva Global implements education programs in Ethiopia and Uganda that transform the lives of girls and women through education and economic empowerment, uplifting entire families and creating spaces where women and girls shape their own futures.
We are showcasing the stories of women who grew up being told school was not for them, who watched their peers face abuse, whose value was tied to who they married and how big their dowry would be, and who now ride motorcycles into remote communities, lead country offices, and create opportunities that never existed for them as girls. Their experiences reflect the progress women have made and the path they continue to build for the next generation of girls.
Country Director, Geneva Global Uganda
Today, more parents give equal opportunity to both boys and girls, but when I was a girl, it was very different. Boys were given more opportunities both in school and socially, and for girls to survive and succeed despite that discrimination required a lot of resilience.
One experience that shaped how I saw women’s equality was transitioning from teaching to a job in South Sudan. That experience helped me realize I could hold any position in a workplace. Gaining that confidence is why I still dream big today.
Working at Geneva Global Uganda matters deeply to me. Using myself as an example, I have become a model of where opportunity can lead girls. When they are supported, the ripple effect is enormous, benefiting families, communities, and entire societies.
Tsion Kibru Worku
Communications Officer, Geneva Global Ethiopia
I was born in a small town where boys were more encouraged and given better chances to go to school. Girls were expected to attend class, but weren’t really given the opportunity to take part actively or lead group activities. I was lucky because my mother made time for me to study and do my homework.
When I met girls from different parts of the country at University, I heard many stories of abuse that people accepted as normal. Through girls’ clubs, I learned how to stand up for myself and other women, and how important it is for women to support one another.
Today, things are changing. Girls are often top students, growing up with greater confidence. Parents now believe that education is the best way out of poverty and value when a girl does well in school and becomes financially independent. With that freedom, a woman can stand up for herself, knows her rights, and will not tolerate abuse. That’s why educating girls is so important—it helps them understand their potential and what they deserve.
Program Officer, Geneva Global Uganda
When I was between the ages of nine and fourteen, girls were denied many opportunities. They were not allowed to make decisions about their own lives, including who they would marry; this depended on the elder’s choice. Girls were often seen only as a source of wealth and not to be educated. We were for the kitchen as housewives, not offices; we were considered inferior and of less value.
Overcoming that, my position as a Program Officer has exposed me to many challenges working in communities with diverse needs and gaining opportunities women formerly could not pursue. Even riding motorcycles for fieldwork was considered a man’s role, yet interestingly, I do very well. This has shown me that I can do just as well at tasks reserved for men. My work supporting women’s opportunities matters to me because empowering women at every level allows them to pursue the roles and futures they choose.
Education Programs Director, Geneva Global Ethiopia
I grew up in a small rural town in Ethiopia. When I think back to my childhood, it was not easy to reach where I am now. Even though my parents were determined to educate their daughters, the community saw it as purposeless. But now, my hometown sees me and my peers as great role models for their children. Teaching girls is now seen as a wise decision.
When I started working at GGE, it deepened my confidence in my work, proving my skills in the workplace. The work we do does not only benefit individual women, it also greatly impacts household literacy and economic prosperity. My role is very important to my community’s holistic change, to encourage women to have a decision-making role both at household and community levels.
Education Manager, Geneva Global Uganda
When I was a child, many families saw girls as a source of wealth after marriage [through doweries]. My father refused to educate us, claiming that when we grew up, we would make the home and marry to create wealth for our families. He helped my brothers and left us out of his educational plan for his family.
My mother raised me singlehandedly. My father, though present, did not raise me. My mother showed me what women are capable of achieving and because of her, I have always worked to pursue opportunities and help create them for others who were also denied them.
Accountant, Geneva Global Ethiopia
As a girl growing up in the capital city, I was fortunate to come from a supportive family and have access to good educational opportunities. One defining moment for me was realizing how different my journey was compared to that of girls in rural areas. Hearing their stories about limited access to education, early responsibilities at home, or societal expectations that restricted their ambitions opened my eyes to the systemic barriers many women face simply because of where they are born.
Supporting women matters deeply to me because I have seen how opportunity can shape a life. My work shapes how I see my role as a woman in my community. I see myself not only as someone who has benefited from opportunity, but also as someone responsible for creating it for others. It encourages me to speak up for girls who are unheard, mentor others, and challenge beliefs that limit women’s potential. It reminds me that empowerment is collective. When one woman rises, she can help lift many others with her.
Senior Program Manager, Community Engagement, Geneva Global Uganda
In the community where I grew up in Northern Uganda, many families denied girls an education. I’m very lucky to have had a Dad who had a passion for education and saw both girls and boys as equal and worthy of the same opportunities. My Mum spent her entire life working to supplement the family income, and watching her determination inspired me. Growing up in an environment where my mother wasn’t limited but instead encouraged by my Dad to go out and work to earn an income shaped my belief in women’s potential.
An empowered woman contributes significantly to society through actively participating in leadership roles. When women have the opportunity to contribute, they have great impacts on their community and families.
Mastewal Mekonnen Girma
GESI and Safeguarding Manager, Geneva Global Ethiopia
I was born and raised in Addis Ababa; I remember how different girls’ opportunities were then compared to today. Many of us were expected to focus on household chores while our brothers studied and played with friends. Helping at home was seen as preparing us for marriage rather than future careers. Although things are improving, with more awareness about gender equality and shared responsibilities, some families still expect girls to carry out the domestic chores, limiting their engagement in school as well as leisure time.
I was a teenager when I started questioning the gender inequality I saw. Watching husbands make decisions and control finances while his wife was saddled with immense work, seeing her voice go unheard, I began to question why marriage limited women’s power and independence. Now, my work supporting girl’s and women’s independence matters to me because I have seen how not having this support dangerously limits women’s voices. My work shapes my role as a woman committed to challenging inequality and modeling autonomy for women in my community.
Melat Melese Baykedagn
HR and Administrative Manager, Geneva Global Ethiopia
As a mother, I want my daughter to have opportunities regardless of her gender. I do not want her to be limited by lack of education or having no control over her earnings. For her, I step outside my comfort zone, showing her the power of taking the opportunities life offers.
When I was pursuing my master’s degree in 2019, I was the only woman in my class. Some classmates refused to work with me on group assignments because they believed I would be a burden. One even made an offensive joke when I asked a question in class. But after my first-semester grades were released, they were surprised. Experiences like that remind me of how much work remains to change perceptions about women’s rights and abilities.
Finance Officer, Geneva Global Ethiopia
When I was growing up, opportunities for girls in my community were much more limited than they are today. Now, families understand the power of education for girls. They are not limited by the same barriers I faced growing up.
The work I do at Geneva Global Ethiopia matters to me because education gives girls confidence, choices, and a better future. When women are economically independent, they can support their families, make their own decisions, and pursue their dreams.
Finance Director, Geneva Global Ethiopia
When I was young, education was valued, but not always equally encouraged for girls. Boys often received more time and support for their studies.
My understanding of inequality deepened when I saw how capable and talented women were, yet how often they were given fewer opportunities. Seeing talented women limited simply because of their gender showed me why supporting women’s rights is so important.
The stories shared by these women reflect both the progress that has been made and the work that remains. Some grew up with support from their families and communities, while others were told their education was pointless. But all of these women have demonstrated the strength of their dreams, and the power their determination exemplifies. At Geneva Global, these women drive our work forward, using their skills and experience to amplify the impact of our programs.
By uplifting their voices, our work remains rooted in the realities of the communities we serve. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women who continue to challenge barriers, support one another, and open doors for the next generation of girls.